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12/15/2011 Detroit Activists Host JACPAC Event

December 15, 2011

A luncheon attended by about fifty members and prospective members of JACPAC was held December 15th at the home of Roz Blanck, of Franklin, a lawyer who is active in Jewish community affairs. Lisa Lis and Pam Lippitt organized the event.
U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley of Nevada was to appear at the luncheon but was unable to attend in person because of a crucial vote in Washington. She spoke to the group by phone. Technology and local talent really saved the day. Pro-Israel activist David Victor, past President of AIPAC, gave an update on US-Israel relations and Jeffrey Zaslow, author of Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, spoke about his experiences with the Congresswoman and her astronaut husband, Mark Kelly. Giffords was shot and nearly killed last year at a shopping mall in her hometown of Tucson. She is working hard to rehabilitate herself so that she can return to Congress.

"These days it is more important than ever to be involved politically,” said event organizer Lisa Lis. “JACPAC deals with the issues I find most compelling, such as Israel, women’s rights and social justice. With the emergence of the Tea Party and the resurgence of extreme right groups, it is important for us to assert ourselves politically. That is why we support members of Congress like Shelley Berkley of Nevada and Gabrielle Giffords of Tucson. They may represent Congressional districts far from ours, but their votes on the critical issues of the day affect us. Our local legislators, Congressman Gary Peters and Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, also represent our like minded concerns and assisting those who speak for us in Congress is paramount to keeping our voices heard.”